There are always things which are anticipated just a little bit more than the norm. Some of these are overwhelmingly successful (Deep Purple's reunion with Perfect Strangers, for example, or Bruce Dickinson's return to Iron Maiden), while others are markedly less so (the Genesis 'reboot' with Calling All Stations, or David Gilmour's intensely underwhelming Rattle..
BLACKHEART ORCHESTRA – ‘Big Armchair 3’ online show. With exclusive merchandise!
For sure, there have been a lot of online, 'virtual' shows in 2020 so far, with the restrictions we are still experiencing. But how many of them allow you to get exclusive souvenir merchandise, including a great coffee mug to use while actually watching! Here's what Chrissy and Rick (aka The Blackheart Orchestra) are saying..
CARRIE MARTIN – New single with Gordon Giltrap
A true born and bred Yorkshire lass - Hull's latest musical find first picked up the guitar at the tender age of four - making her stage debut aged nine. The music bug was set for life! By the end of her teens she was bathing in her radio heroes - The Bangles, Cyndi Lauper..
KURSAAL FLYERS – Little Does She Know: The Complete Recordings (RPM / Cherry Red)
...music to dance to, think to, laugh to and sing to. Which is pretty much the Kursaal Flyers mission statement in a nutshell. Okay then. All UK readers of a certain age who just received an unassailable earworm merely by reading the title of this set, raise your hands. All of you, huh? No surprise..
JON GOMM – Guitar virtuoso’s new album announced for October, plus tour details
Jon Gomm, the UK based acoustic guitar virtuoso, has announced the details of his new album The Faintest Idea, due for release on Kscope on 16th October 2020. All photos: Elizabeth Gomm With this new album he has found new emotional depths in immense melodic pop landscapes. When most people look at an acoustic guitar, they see..
KEN HENSLEY – Tales Of Live Fire & Other Mysteries (Cherry Red / HNE)
Having already brought us a box set rounding up the first three solo albums recorded by Ken Hensley for Bronze Records back in the '70s (see review), Cherry Red have now turned their attention to a period rather closer to the present day, with this five-disc box containing four very different albums, all of which..
JOHN LODGE – New single ‘In These Crazy Times’, with Jon Davison of Yes
PHOTO: Dana Grubb John Lodge - bass guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter for The Moody Blues - recently released a new single called In These Crazy Times (Isolation mix). It’s available to download on Amazon, iTunes, and all usual streaming services. John recorded the track in his home studio in Florida and he performed vocals and guitar..
DEREK SHERINIAN launches ‘Empyrean Sky’, first track from new album ‘The Phoenix’
World acclaimed keyboardist Derek Sherinian, (Sons of Apollo, Black Country Communion), one of the most significant keyboard players of the modern era, recently announced the release of his new solo album The Phoenix on the 18th September 2020, his first since 2011’s Oceana. Derek comments: "I truly feel that this is my best solo record to date. Simon and..
GORDON GILTRAP OFFICIAL BIOGRAPHY – Exclusive Sample Chapter
The Wymer publication Perilous Journey, by Velvet Thunder writer Steve Pilkington, is the official biography of guitarist Gordon Giltrap, produced with the full involvement of Gordon himself. Presented here is a sample chapter from the book, to give a flavour of it, and hopefully entertain! We take up the story just after the Perilous Journey..
THAT JOE PAYNE – By Name. By Nature.
A deeply thoughtful work which delves beneath the surface of the music to give the listener a real glimpse into what it is to be 'that Joe Payne'. Most people - or most prog fans,certainly - will probably know Joe Payne (with or without 'That') as the singer with bombastic symphonic band The Enid. When..